Modular responsive screen grid, authoring and displaying system

ABSTRACT

A content containing message may be created by a user or multiple users, and may contain content items such as videos, images and hyperlinks. The messages may be sent and exchanged between users, as well as collected, liked or commented on.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 14/977,363, filed on Dec. 21, 2015, which is a continuation ofU.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/480,213, filed on Sep. 8, 2014,which, in turn, claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No.61/875,343, filed on Sep. 9, 2013, the disclosure of each of which isincorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to media content aggregation. Moreparticularly, an example embodiment described in the disclosure relatesto a modular responsive screen grid, authoring and displaying system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated into, and constitute apart, of this specification illustrate one or more embodiments of thepresent disclosure and, together with the description of exampleembodiments, serve to explain the principles and implementations of thedisclosure.

FIGS. 1a-1d illustrate exemplary layouts of a message.

FIGS. 2a-2c illustrate exemplary mobile devices.

FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary desktop device.

FIG. 4 depicts different exemplary layouts of cells.

FIG. 5 illustrates exemplary content items in cells.

FIG. 6 illustrates an exemplary interface to link or upload a photo in acell.

FIG. 7 illustrates examples of automatic editing and resizing of animage in a cell.

FIG. 8 illustrates options in choosing or buying a layout of cells.

FIG. 9 illustrates an exemplary project structure that contains a listof messages.

FIG. 10 illustrates an exemplary collection of messages.

FIG. 11 illustrates an exemplary editing of a message and thepublication of a message.

FIG. 12 illustrates exemplary actions that can be taken on a message.

FIG. 13 illustrates an exemplary structure of the comments in a message.

FIG. 14 illustrates exemplary notifications and navigation shortcuts.

FIG. 15 illustrates a configurable empty grid and the creation of a newmessage.

FIG. 16 illustrates an exemplary project message.

FIG. 17 illustrates an exemplary user profile.

FIG. 18 illustrates an exemplary general feed.

FIG. 19 illustrates an exemplary classification of messages in a generalfeed.

FIG. 20 illustrates an exemplary way to include previews of the messagesin an external website.

FIG. 21 illustrates an exemplary way to embed an interactive player inan external website.

FIG. 22 illustrates an exemplary way to display the message on a genericinteractive screen.

FIG. 23 illustrates an exemplary device.

FIG. 24 illustrates an exemplary synthetic visualization of the systemfocusing on the general feed and its paths.

FIG. 25 illustrates a visualization of an exemplary personal profile andits paths, its functionalities and possibilities.

FIG. 26 depicts an exemplary collocation of the project in theecosystem.

FIG. 27 illustrates an exemplary client/server architecture.

SUMMARY

In a first aspect of the disclosure, a method is described, the methodcomprising: a method, comprising: presenting, to a user of a firstcomputer, a plurality of layout formats, wherein each of plurality thelayout formats is user-selectable for dividing a viewing area of thefirst computer area into a corresponding plurality of cells; creating asingle-page document, which based on a user-selection of one of theplurality of layout formats, divides the displayed viewing area into theplurality of cells corresponding thereto; assigning to each cell of theselected plurality, a corresponding item of media content designatedfrom among a plurality of media content items according to a userselection; and rendering the created single-page document over thedivided viewing area based on the assigning, wherein the rendereddocument comprises one or more of: each of the media content itemsdisplayed within each of the corresponding cells; or upon activating aninterface associated with a selected cell of the document, one or moreof an expanded view or an enlarged view of the media content items, or aview thereof which is displaced spatially in relation to the selectedcell.

In a second aspect of the disclosure, a device is described, the devicecomprising: a device, comprising: a bus; a processor coupled with thebus; a display viewing area coupled with the bus; means coupled with thebus and operable to receive input from a user; means coupled with thebus and operable to send and receive single-page messages; and anon-transitory storage medium coupled with the bus and comprisinginstructions, which are tangibly stored therewith and executable by theprocessor, wherein, upon executing the stored instructions, theprocessor is operable for performing or controlling a process, whichcomprises: presenting, to a user of a first computer, a plurality oflayout formats, wherein each of plurality the layout formats isuser-selectable for dividing a viewing area of the first computer areainto a corresponding plurality of cells; creating a single-pagedocument, which based on a user-selection of one of the plurality oflayout formats, divides the displayed viewing area into the plurality ofcells corresponding thereto; assigning to each cell of the selectedplurality, a corresponding item of media content designated from among aplurality of media content items according to a user selection; andrendering the created single-page document over the divided viewing areabased on the assigning, wherein the rendered document comprises one ormore of: each of the media content items displayed within each of thecorresponding cells; or upon activating an interface associated with aselected cell of the document, one or more of an expanded view or anenlarged view of the media content items, or a view thereof which isdisplaced spatially in relation to the selected cell.

In a third aspect of the disclosure, a device is described, the devicecomprising: a processor; a display viewing area; means to receive inputfrom a user; and means to send and receive single-page messages; whereinthe display viewing area is divided into cells, based on a layout chosenby the user, thereby constituting a single-page message, wherein thecells are configured to display content items.

An example embodiment of the present invention relates to a method,which comprises presenting to a user of a first computer a plurality oflayout formats, wherein each of the plurality of layout formats isuser-selectable for dividing a viewing area of the first computer areainto a corresponding plurality of cells, which is unique in relation tothe other layout formats. A single-page document is created, which basedon a user-selection of one of the plurality of layout formats, dividesthe displayed viewing area into the unique plurality of cellscorresponding thereto. A corresponding item of media content is assignedto each cell of the selected unique plurality designated from among aplurality of media content items according to a user selection. Thecreated single-page document is rendered over the divided viewing areabased on the assignment. The rendered document comprises one or more ofeach of the media content items displayed within each of thecorresponding cells, and upon activating an interface associated with aselected cell of the document, one or more of an expanded view or anenlarged view of the media content items, or a view thereof, which isdisplaced spatially in relation to the selected cell.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Example embodiments of the present invention are described in relationto a method, which comprises presenting, to a user of a first computer,a plurality of layout formats, wherein each plurality of the layoutformats is user-selectable for dividing a viewing area of the firstcomputer area into a corresponding plurality of cells, which is uniquein relation to the other layout formats.

A single-page document is created, which based on a user-selection ofone of the plurality of layout formats, divides the displayed viewingarea into the unique plurality of cells corresponding thereto. As usedherein, e.g., in this paragraph, the previous two paragraphs and thenext following paragraph (as well as elsewhere within the presentspecification and claims), the term “unique” refers to the set ofspatial, space-filling, appearance-related and/or other characteristicsof a given (certain, particular, selected, designated, example, etc.)individual layout format of the plurality of available layout formats,as corresponding to that given layout format, but that set ofcharacteristics of the given layout format does not correspond to otherlayout formats of the plurality of available layout formats.

A corresponding item of media content is assigned to each cell of theselected unique plurality, designated from among a plurality of mediacontent items according to a user selection.

The created single-page document is rendered over the divided viewingarea based on the assigning.

The rendered document comprises one or more of: each of the mediacontent items displayed within each of the corresponding cells, or uponactivating an interface associated with a selected cell of the document,one or more of an expanded view or an enlarged view of the media contentitems, or a view thereof which is displaced spatially in relation to theselected cell.

The present application thus describes systems and methods for onlinepublishing and reading which permit the publication of multimediacontents, with a strong visual impact, in a full page, uniting andmixing different types of media content. The system, or instruments, andmethods can be used for publishing and as a service for online socialnetworking. The system and methods allow users to read and writemessages comprising, for example, images, text, audio files, videos,live video feeds, and weblinks comprising links to other messages. Asingle message comprising the above elements represents a minimal unitof information. The message comprises a rectangular grid structure,which can be configured by the user. The content of the message can beinteractive, such as allowing the insertion of text, images or videos.The grid structure can be used in a tablet or a smartphone, (such as thedevices visible in FIGS. 2a-2c ), or other computers such as a desktopor laptop computer (FIG. 3) and any type of display.

The present application describes a visual platform for the messagescreated by a user. The message comprises content formatted in a singlepage message, composed on a flexible and customizable grid, for examplemade of 12 or 15 cells (FIGS. 1a-1d ).

The users can mix content in a new and playful way. For example, a usercan compose a message by mixing different kinds of content (texts,files, images, videos, sounds files, link, etc.) directly on the cellsof the grid (FIG. 5). Content may also include API (Application ProgramInterface) accessible data, PDF files and issue publications.

Cells can be merged, in order to create larger areas for content. Themethods described in the present application apply very well tophotography. For example, users can insert their own visual content byaccessing images and media files directly from a tablet, smartphone orthe web, or by uploading images (see FIG. 6) from their account on othersocial networks, like Instagram® or Flickr®. The images and media filescan be stored in the cloud, a decentralized network of storage serversas understood by the person skilled in the art. Content may reside onthe web and may include “mixxied” or other mashed-in data.

Messages can be composed, stored and viewed, for example, on a tablet orsmartphone app or website. The users can share a message within anonline community of users, or alternatively, the users may use the mainsocial networks like Facebook® and Twitter®, or send it directly toother users.

Users can connect to each other, deciding to follow other users (1740 ofFIG. 17), for example receiving regular updates of messages created byother users.

The core content comprises a customizable one page grid divided intomodules called cells, for example (101) of FIG. 1a . There can be twomain parent-grids 3×4 (FIG. 1a ) and 3×5 (FIG. 1b ) modules. However,other grid templates may be used.

The two main parent grids can be termed M15 (3×5) and M12 (3×4) and arethe two classical grid composition boards. Several other templates arebased on these two grids, M15 and M12.

Users can choose from among various grids based on preference or whichparent grid better suits their needs. For example, some users may findthat the square grid M12 can be used more suitably for displayingcontent such as square images like those accessed from Instagram®,and/or for text intensive messages. Some users may find that therectangular grid M15 can be better suited for compositions withclassical 4:3 format images.

In mobile devices such as tablets or smartphones, the grid can adaptautomatically to the screen of the device (FIGS. 2a-2c ), byautomatically resizing.

On laptop computers the grid can adapt in height (FIG. 3), showingalways the message in its entirety. The type of dividing lines of thegrid can be changed or removed at any moment. For example, the dividinglines (110) of FIG. 1b can be removed as in FIGS. 1c-1d . The lines(105) in FIGS. 1c-1d are not actual dividing lines in the real message,but are only drawn in FIGS. 1c-1d for representative purposes, toillustrate herein a separation between cells (101) of a message.

Cell behaviour is illustrated in FIG. 4. Users can put contents in onecell, for example (405) in FIG. 4, or can merge more cells together inorder to create a larger cell, such as (410), to accomodate contents toachieve the desire visual effect. Cells can be enlarged by merging morecells together (410).

Merged cells can be split back to their original size. Cell content canbe moved from one position to another on the grid. Moving a cell'scontent from one position to another exchanges the content between thestarting cell and the ending cell.

Users can drag the content into a different position. The two contentsget swapped without changing the cell size. Users can also move a cellfrom one position to another using positioning arrows.

A cell can be enlarged as long as there are available cells nearby(415). A cell and its content can be deleted. A deleted cell issubstituted with a standard empty cell.

In the basic message (a message not yet customized with user content)the first upper left cell can be termed the author cell (420) and thesecond cell in the first row can be termed the title cell (425)

An example embodiment may be implemented in which an author cell isneither moved nor enlarged (e.g., the author cell cannot be moved, norenlarged). An example embodiment may be implemented in which the titlecell is resizable within the designated title cell position (e.g., thetitle cell can be resized or enlarged in the same row, but is not orcannot be moved therefrom).

An example embodiment described with reference to FIG. 5 of the presentapplication is based on single page messages with a strong visualimpact. The message comprises a single page which fills the display of adevice, such as a tablet. An example embodiment may be implemented inwhich each cell of a message is filled for publication thereof (e.g., amessage must have every cell filled before it can be published).

In an example embodiment, messages comprise a minimal content unit(e.g., the message is the minimal unit with which content may bepublished). The message is characterized by a series of blocks locatedinside the cells of the grid. These blocks can cover one or more cellsand can be dimensioned following appropriate rules.

An example embodiment may be implemented in which any message has atleast two special blocks (e.g., the message always has two specialblocks which cannot be removed). The at least two special non-removableblocks of the message comprise the author block (505) and the titleblock (510).

A group of messages can be shown in a list. The elements of the list(e.g., the messages) comprise a preview image, a title and someadditional information, such as date of publication, number of likes,number of comments, and the collection to which the message belongs.

The message can comprise the following blocks of content.

TEXT (515): The font or character size of text (515) can be defined in atemplate. The dimensions can be increased or reduced automatically basedon the amount of text written. The user can insert the text directlyinto the block of the grid.

IMAGE (520): The user can insert an image (520) in the correspondingcell based on a number of options which are available, such as snappinga picture in the moment, choosing a picture from a gallery in the deviceused (such as a smartphone or tablet), choosing a picture from a galleryin the cloud, or importing the picture from other services, such associal networks and online galleries.

The picture can be saved in the memory of the device and in the cloudspace of the system. As shown in FIG. 7, the picture can be inserted inthe cell, centered and enlarged to fill the whole space available in thecell (705).

The user can move, rotate, resize or crop the image. The resulting imagestill fills the space of the cell entirely (see, for example (710, 715,720). The user may also edit other characteristics of the image, such astone, color, “redeye” or other appearance-related aspects, defects orattributes of the image within the cell.

When several cells are joined (the cell can change dimensions), a newcell is formed and the image is repositioned and recentered with respectto the new center of the new cell (725).

It is possible to insert a text box in the picture, which is shownsimply as text over the picture (730).

The picture can be shown in its entirety, in full screen. The user canchoose whether the full screen image is shown as the original imagebefore editing, or if instead the edited picture is shown (rotated,risized, etc.).

Photo stocks can be purchased directly through the application in adedicated marketplace.

SLIDESHOW: Referring again to FIG. 5, the slideshow (525) shows asequence of images as a type of content in one cell of the grid of amessage. Ways to insert a slideshow in the cell are similar to thosedescribed above for inserting images.

VIDEO (530): The video (530) is shown in a cell with a thumbnail and abutton which can be pressed to start play back. An example embodimentmay be implemented in which pressing the play button plays the video infull screen. The video can be inserted through a link given by theservice provider which is hosting the video file. Storage of the videocan be local (in the device used) and/or in the cloud.

The video can also be inserted in the cell in ways that are similar tothose described above for inserting images. An example embodiment may beimplemented in which a video file that is linked can also not be savedlocally.

SOUND FILE (535): An audio file (535) can also be inserted in a cell ascontent. The audio file is shown with a thumbnail and a play buttonwhich can activate the sound file directly inside the grid. The audiofile (535) can be inserted in the cell through the link provided by theservice provider which is hosting the audio file. Storage of the audiofile (535) can be local or in the cloud. The audio file (535) can beinserted in ways similar to those described above for inserting images.An example embodiment may be implemented in which if an audio file islinked into the cell, the audio file does not need to be saved intolocal memory.

EXTERNAL LINKS (540): A user can also insert an external link (540)directly into a cell. The cell may also contain text or images at thesame time as the link. A link module can permit the creation of ahypertextual link with a different message or with an external web link.

ADVERTISING (545): An advertising (e.g., media content such as an “ad”or “advert” image or the like, which is primarily associated with anadvertisement, commercial or otherwise) item (545) can be displayedwithin the message, with a similar modality as that which displays othercontent (e.g., as described above).

An advertising module can comprise of any type of content block asdescribed above, such as an image block or a video block. An advertisingmodule can occupy one or more cells and be integrated in the layout ofthe message. It is possible to remove (or move) the advertisementdirectly to see the entire message (or at least expand the visibleportion thereof, which is unobstructed or unoccluded by the ad). Anexample embodiment may be implemented in which the removal of theadvertisement can be done by paying a subscription or one-off charge,rendering a token, or in which the ad is at least diminished, mimized,reduced, softened, removed, or dissolved, etc. after expiration of atime period set for its display or upon achievment of some othercriterion, or remains available for full or other display but isotherwise then obstructed, obscured or occluded by the othernon-advertising related media content, either automatically or upon arelated user action.

MAPS (550): A user can insert also a map module (550). The map moduledisplays a map from a third party service. The user can choose a placeor address and the service identifies the place by showing its locationon the map. The map covers always the entire space available to thecell.

The message described in the present application can be public orprivate. When it is public it is visible to all users. When it isprivate it can be of two modalities. In a first modality it is visibleonly to certain users selected by the users (private publishing).

In a second private modality the message is part of a privatecollection, visible only to a group of people selected by the user(private publishing in collection).

To create a new message, the user can choose the option to create a newmessage, as shown in the example dashboard depicted in FIG. 14 (1405).

Referring to FIG. 15, the system can then show a configurable emptygrid. The user can tap on a quadrant and the system displays an iconrepresentative of the possible content to be inserted. The user canswipe the screen to scroll down types of content or can choose a type.

The user can tap on the screen to confirm the content choice. The systemcan show the procedure to insert the specific content. Possible contentsare discussed below.

TEXT (1505): A cursor can be displayed directly in the selected cell.The entire keyboard can be displayed. The text which is entered by theuser can be resized automatically based on its length.

IMAGE (1510): Options can be displayed that permit to choose the sourceof the image. A reference gallery can be chosen and the image can beinserted. The image can be automatically centered with respect to thedimension ratio of the cell. Afterwards it is possible to modify theimage based on the necessary edits (such as cropping, rotation,resizing, etc.)

MAPS/AUDIO/VIDEO (1515, 1520, 1525): Options can be chosen to insert anaddress for a map or a reference link for an audio or video file. Thesystem incorporates automatically the external content.

LINK (1530): To insert a link in a cell a panel of options can bedisplayed for the link. The system automatically inserts a link and athumbnail extracted from the content. For text and image cells, the linkcan be displayed as a secondary information with respect to the imageand the text, and can be inserted through an option panel specificallyof the cell which hosts the link.

Once the content is inserted the user can edit the content or resize thecell in the grid.

During editing the user can save the message at any time, or the messagemay be automatically saved by the system.

An example embodiment may be implemented in which, at the end of theediting, the user can publish the message only if all the cells havebeen edited. An example embodiment may thus be implemented in which allmessages are complete (e.g., a “published” message cannot exist if thepre-publication form precursive to the message, such as a message draft,is not complete).

With respect to their own message, users can take the following actions,as depicted in FIG. 11.

A user can save a message as a draft, even if not completed. A draftmessage is not published. A user can publish a message subsequently,once the cells have been edited (1110). A user can publish a privatemessage (1115). A user can save (1105) or delete a message (1120).

With respect to messages, also of other users, the following actions canbe taken, as depicted in FIG. 12.

A user can collect (1205) a message. The link of the message is thusinserted into a collection of links.

A user can flag the message as inappropriate and, if he is the owner ofthe message, the user can modify the message (1210).

A user can share (1215) the message through common social networks (suchas Facebook®, Twitter® and Pinterest®), or through email.

A user can express an appreciation, or like (1235) with a votingfunction or button. When appreciating something, the message isautomatically inserted into the collection of ‘favorites’.

A user can comment (1240; see also FIG. 13) on a message through thecommenting function.

The user can send (1225) a message as a private message to another user.

A user can take the following actions on the list of their own messages.

A user can choose a preview image.

A user can modify the preview image.

A user can choose which message to put at the top of the list (featuredmessage).

A user can collect the message in a collection.

The grid can fluidly reflow. The informative content of the grid is notaltered if the display dimensions are changed, based on what device isused during visualization.

The dimensions of the cells can adapt to the optimal size automatically,as a function of the display size, without any additional actions on thepart of the user.

For screens with a width in excess of 1024 pixels (e.g., desktopvisualization) the grid can expand to fill the entire height of thescreen available, preserving a ratio of 3:4 (or 3:5) (see, e.g., FIG.3).

For screens with a width equal or less than 1024 pixels (e.g.,smartphone or tablet visualization), the grid can expand to cover theentire screen both in width and height, preserving the correctproportions between the single cells (see, e.g., FIGS. 2a-2c ).

The message, as the principal content, comprises an element based onother types of content. For example, the message may be used formicroblogging or digital publishing. The other content is forms ofaggregations of the base message and provide different possibilitiesdepending on the type of aggregation.

Possible aggregations are as follows.

THE PROJECT (FIG. 9): the project comprises a logic subgroup of themessage limited to a multi user profile. The project collects togetherthe content of different users. The project belongs to the ecosystem,but it can be reached from a different link or address.

THE COLLECTION (FIG. 10): the collection comprises a public or privatecollection of messages. The messages contained in the collection,belonging to the user or to other users, refer to the original message.

As shown in FIG. 9, the project comprises a multi user special profile,which collects one or more messages (950). From the user's point ofview, e.g., in view of the fruition of the user's intent, the logicenvironment of the project may be considered as somewhat delimitedand/or separated from the general application of messages. The projectis however inserted into the bigger environment of the computerapplication that implements the messages. The project comprises asubgroup of the computer application, well defined, and the project canbe reached from a link which can be personalized by the user.

The objective of the project is to create a work space around a theme oran editorial goal.

With reference to FIG. 9, the structure of the project comprises macroareas, a feed which contains the messages produced (905), collectionswhich contain collections produced (910), authors which display thepartecipants in the project and all the subscribers (915), that is thosewho receive updates about the project. The project may also comprise atitle (920), a description (925), an editable cover (930), an imagedescriptive of the profile (935) of FIG. 9.

With reference to FIG. 16, the messages published in a project have astandard structure as described above. One difference with regard tonormal messages is that of the special author cell, which for theproject messages displays information on the project (1605).

The messages of the collections can be ordered editorially.

The messages can be featured, that is put on top of the list, in aneditorial way, and fixed above the list of other messages.

There is no limit on the messages contained in a project.

A project can be participated in as a reader, or as an author whopublishes messages in the project.

Referring again to FIG. 9, participation in the project can happen bypublishing directly in the project space (for users who are authorizedto publish) or by sending a message (945) to the principal user (theproject) which can collect the message and therefore make it visible inthe project feed.

A project can be subscribed to by a user (940 of FIG. 9), which entailsthe reception of notifications every time the project is updated ormodified.

A user in a project can take different actions. A user can send amessage for publication (945 of FIG. 9). A project can be flagged toallow administrators of the computer application to evaluate thecontent. A project can be subscribed to (940).

A project can be shared on a social network (945).

A project can be created by the owners of the computer application witha direct intervention, assigning a space of publication to a specificuser. Once created, the user becomes administrator of the space and candecide to include other users for publication.

With reference to FIG. 10, the collection comprises a group of messagesproduced by a user (1005 of FIG. 10). The collection can be public orprivate. The collection can belong to a single user or to multipleusers. The collection groups the messages of the author/user, or ofother users.

An objective of the collection is to create a system of classificationavailable to the user and a space for collaboration between users. Thus,the collection may function as a classification instrument over themessage group.

The structure of a collection (FIG. 10) may comprise a feed thatcontains collected messages (1010), an editable cover (1015), an imagedescriptive of the profile of the collection (1020), a title (1025), adescription (1030 of FIG. 10).

There is no limit on the collections that can be published. There is nolimit on the number of messages that can be collected by a collection.

The collection can be public, therefore visible to everybody, orprivate. Private collections are therefore visible only to the user whocreated it, and a designated group of other users.

A collection can be subscribed to by a user (1035 of FIG. 10), whichentails the reception of notifications every time the collection isupdated or modified.

The messages within a collection can be featured, that is they can beput at the top of the list over other messages, and kept at the top ofthe list.

The messages can be inserted in a collection at any point of thecomputer application.

The owner of the collection can remove messages from the collection.

The messages present in a collection can be references. Removing amessage from a collection does not cause the deletion of a message fromthe computer application.

If the original content is deleted, the reference is also deleted fromthe collection.

Several actions can be taken with regard to a collection: a user cansubscribe to a collection (1035 in FIG. 10). A collection can be flaggedto allow administrators to verify the content of the collection.

A collection can be shared (1040 of FIG. 10).

A collection can be created by a user who creates an empty collectionand then chooses messages to include in the collection, or a user cancollect a message and the system can ask the user whether the user wantsto insert the message in a collection, either existing or new.

The favorite collection comprises a special private collection whichcollects all the messages which have been liked by a user.

A message, when created, can be a draft message, which is only visibleby the author and not published. As shown in FIG. 11, the message canalso be published privately (1115 of FIG. 11), visible only by theauthor and a designated user. The message can be published privately(1115) and inserted into a private collection, visible only to a groupof users designated in the private collection.

A message can be public and visible to all users.

The content inserted in a collection can each maintain their own levelof visibility (public or private).

An example embodiment may be implemented in which, if a privatecollection becomes public, the messages go automatically to a publishedstate. An example embodiment may be implemented in which, once it ismade made public, a public collection cannot return to be private orotherwise take a non-public status.

The computer application defines a series of relationships betweenusers. This system of relationships and related functions constitutes asocial network theme.

The principal element of the social network is the presence of apersonal profile (FIG. 17) which has a function to manifest the presenceof the user through a series of functions.

The social element of the application is manifested by two otherelements, the project and the collection. The project permits thecondivision of a space and the creation of a group of messages with atheme.

The collection permits individual activity of classification andselection, but using content from the community of the application,rendering the organization of the content a social activity.

With reference to FIG. 17, the profile comprises the calling card (e.g.,a mark, signature, emblem, etc.) of the user within the application andthe principal hub for all its content.

Through the profile the user is in contact with other users.

The profile comprises a feed (1705) which contains all the messagesproduced or collected (1750), collections which contain all thecollections created (1710), authors which displays a social network ofauthors connected to the user (1715), an editable cover (1720), an imagedescriptive of the profile (1725), a text for identification(name/surname) (1730), a description (1735 of FIG. 17).

The following actions can be taken with respect to the profile. The usercan send a personal message (1745 of FIG. 17; see also 1215 of FIG. 12).The profile can be flagged by a user.

The user can follow another user (1740 of FIG. 17). This action insertsthe user into the circle of contacts and enables the user to receivenotifications on published content.

The profile of a user can be shared (1745 of FIG. 17). The user can beinserted in a collaborative collection. The user can also be permittedto publish a project.

A personal profile is always visible as a fundamental element ofrecognition and belonging to the system.

FIG. 14 depicts an example dashboard, according to an embodiment of thepresent invention. The dashboard (FIG. 14) contains notificationfunctions and navigation functions. The notifications (1420, 1425, 1430,1435) as illustrated in FIG. 14, are a group of signals that permit auser to remain up to date with respect to the actions taken by otherusers and, in particular, with users in the user circle of contacts.Navigation functions are shortcuts to the most important areas ofapplication: General feed (1410), Personal profile (1415), Favouritecollection (1440), the most important collection (1445), search function(1450), photo gallery (1455).

There are two types of notifications: 1) signals, which signal the factthat something has happened, and 2) suggestions, which suggest contentthat is considered, in some way, interesting to the circle of contactsof the user.

Signals can notify events relative to a message that has been commentedon. For example, a signal may annunciate the addition of a new comment.Some such notifications may be changed or disabled, according to aselected user preference (e.g., it is possible to disable, mute orreduce the volume, tone or other characteristic of the notificationsignal). With respect to the published content, a signal may notify of anew message, a new like received, a new sharing, a new collection event,where the message has been added to a collection.

With respect to a project, the signals may notify of a new subscriptionto the project, new content sent, new content published, new sharingreceived, new collections received.

With respect to a collection, the signals may notify of a newsubscription, a new sharing, a new collection event.

Suggestions may be related to a contact of the user, for examplesuggesting a new content inserted, a new like received. With respect tothe project, suggestions may notify of new content published. Withrespect to a subscribed collection, the suggestions may notify of a newcontent collected. With respect to the general community, suggestionsmay notify of a new contact received.

In an options panel, it may be possible to receive what kind ofnotifications to receive.

Comments (e.g., as shown in FIG. 13) may be associated with every (orany) message and may comprise a feedback element for the author of themessage. The comments may be dispayed (or displayable) in a layer belowthe message and may always be readable (or at least accessible), evenover several pages, by bringing the underlying layer to the front.

Actions that can be taken with respect to the comments compriseinserting a new comment, deleting a comment or flagging a comment asinappropriate.

In the general architecture of the application, the system comprises atleast two areas, a general feed and a personal feed.

The general feed permits the exploration of the public content insertedin this application by users.

The personal feed permits the display of updates, which allow a firstuser to remain up to date with the activities of at least a second user,who is being followed by the first user. As used herein, the term“followed” may relate to, or take the sense in which artisans ofordinary skill in related technical fields (and indeed others) mayunderstand it, of monitoring or staying abreast of and/or current with,the second user's related ongoing activities.

As shown in FIG. 19, the general feed can be filtered by category (1905in FIG. 19) or by type of content (1910).

When the user selects or chooses a category or a type of content, thesystem filters the content available and shows content relative to theselected or chosen category or type.

The two filters, category and type, can also be used additively togetherover the general feed.

The general feed can be ordered (1830 in FIG. 18, 1915 in FIG. 19) by,based on, or according to newest content, most used or “favorite”content with or without a time frame, most viewed content within aspecified or selected time frame (such as a day, last week, last month,all), featured content, and/or content with editorial highlights by ateam of administrators of the system.

When the user chooses a type of ordering, the system displays thecontent ordered following the type of ordering chosen by the user.

The filters and ordering types described above can be used additively.

It is possible to apply an ordering type to the results otained byapplying the filters of type and category.

The personal feed permits the exploration of content produced by usersthat a user is following, receiving updates for every new contentcreated.

The application is structured so that it can be visible to mobiledevices and desktop computers, through the web. Additionally, theapplication can provide an Application Programming Interface (API) whichallows the utilization of core functions to exploit the functionality inapplications or web applications of third parties.

The application can implemented in a specific language of the referencedevice. The application can be used in a tablet, for example withoperating systems iOS and Android. The dimensions of the specific tabletdo not influence the functionalities of the application. The applicationautomatically adapts to the display screen in a fluid way, as visible inFIG. 2.

An application can also be implemented for smartphones. The smartphonesmay be implemented to have a typical form-factor somewhat smaller thanthat characterizing most tablets and thus, the version for a smartphonecan be reduced with respect to that of the tablet, and/or somewhat morefocused on the visualization and interaction with the community.

The web application can be implemented with similar functionality of thetablet application. The layout and structure can be adapted to thecharacteristics of the computer screen, keeping in consideration theheight of the frame of visualization. The fundamental characteristics ofvisualization can be held intact for the most common dimensions.

The focus of the application can be divided in three groups, which eachrelate primarily to content (feeds and project), network, and profile.These three logic visualizations are significant (perhaps evenfundamental in some uses) for the three activities, which comprise thefruition of content, the presence within the network of contacts, andthe administration of the system. These three principal activities allrelate to the creation and editing of content.

The three elements representative of these functions comprise the feedof content (general feed, personal feed, local feeds of collections,projects and profiles), the personal profile, and the network of users.

FIG. 24 illustrates an exemplary synthetic visualization of the systemfocusing on the general feed and its paths.

FIG. 25 illustrates a visualization of an exemplary personal profile andits paths, its functionalities and possibilities.

FIG. 26 depicts an exemplary collocation of the project in theecosystem.

The FIGS. 24, 25, and 26 illustrate an exemplary overview of the wholeapplication.

The system may comprise, or be characterized by, a client/serverarchitecture (FIG. 24).

The web server (entry point) can administer every request from thedifferent levels of the application and can direct appropriately therequests to the application server.

The server side of the application hosts the system manager of theapplication which provides all the interactions, database access, and aseries of functionalities for the creation and visualization of content.

A separate server can manage the access and use of data. Thisdifferentiation between servers, offers a logic separation between dataand content, and permits the management of a separate photo bank.

A system of APIs is created which allows third parties access to thepublic functions of the system and the integration of these functionswithin applications or web applications of third parties.

The system allows developers a series of functions that allows the useof the application.

The functional libraries comprise at least a first type and a secondtype. The first functional library type comprises the consultationfunctions, which allow the creationg of third party services thatdisplay, list or allow access to public content in the system.

A second functional library type comprises the creation functions, whichallow the creation of messages through an external graphical userinterface of the application, while remaining within the application.Thus, although they are created by external sytems, all the contentproduced follow the rules of the application and remain within theapplication.

Starting from these functions, the system makes available at least twotypes of preconfigurable modules which can be integrated on an externalwebsite (website, social network, landing page, and any other webservice), as described below.

The first type of preconfigurable module shows a preview of one or moremessages made in a specific context (2005) of FIG. 20. It can becustomized to show the number of elements that a user wants. Theelements are selected in a specific space directly decided by the useramong the available ones (personal profile, project, collection, etc.)and selected depending on a precise criteria: the last published ones,the most viewed, the most commented, the most liked ones (for example: alanding page or a blog (FIG. 20) that shows the preview of the messageson a project, collection or specific profile).

The second type of preconfigurable module comprises a player which canbe embedded in a website (2105) of FIG. 21 or social network or anyother interactive service (eg. totem or vertical screen in shoppingcenters as in FIG. 22). This player shows the selected message and givesthe same type of interactions that are in the native system(appreciation, sharing, comment, etc.). Moreover, this player allows aseries of additional discovery functions tied to the native contest(profile, project or collection) and to the category of the message.

The system offers a third group of functions that allow to create anautomatic message. The system automatically combines a series ofmultimedial content given by a user in a message with a layout selectedamong the available ones. The system allows users to modify the initialcontents or choose a new available template. All these functions areused both internally, to produce an automatic message, both as publicAPIs to develop third parties services.

The system can be used with a physical device created on purpose for theuse of the application, which enlarges the ecosystem of the entiresystem.

This physical device can be called a cam (FIG. 23). The cam comprises acamera to take audio and video content (2350 in FIG. 23) and amultifunctional display (2355) through which a user can interact withthe system and create messages in a mobile context.

The cam can be connected to a telephone network, a wireline network,and/or a wireless network, to allow real time transmission of messages.

As shown in FIG. 8, an example embodiment may be implemented in whichcertain layouts of cells for a message may be available as a choice fromthe user (805), while others may be purchased separately by the user(810).

Every element in a message is independent from the other elements andcan also be searchable. Text is not rendered as an image, therefore itcan be searched. Images could be searchable for example through an imagesearch engine.

A cell may also contain and embed in a module reference to othermessages or to collections of messages or to a specific author (linksinternal to the application to profiles of a message author).

A message may also be referred to as a mixxie, as it mixes differentkind of content in one document, while keeping the contents separate andindependent.

A message, or mixxie, comprises a container of content, in which eachmodule can embed different kinds of digital content and the user/authorcan define not only the kind of content but also the size (and/or theimportance or the space) that this content has relatively to themixxie/page as a whole.

An example embodiment may be implemented in which a system may beconfigured to implement the methods of the present disclosure. Thesystem may comprise one or more of the following elements, comprising: aweb server running a server application configured to connect to aspecific device, running a device specific application, such as asmartphone or tablet, a web application for desktop or laptop computers,and a third party application. The system may also comprise anapplication server, configured to manage application programminginterfaces, story engine (organizing stories of mixxies), story viewer(viewing stories created), community manager (for example moderatingcomments), file manager (organizing files), photo bank marketplace andapplication databases. The system may also comprise a file server,configured to manage file server databases, and the web server may beconfigured to connect to the application server, the application servermay be configured to connect to the file server, and the applicationdatabases and file server databases can be hosted in a cloud serverenvironment.

An example embodiment may be implemented in which mixxies may be builtautomatically by the system by assembling content provided by a user, orcontent available on a website or other sources.

In some embodiments, a user interface for the devices of the presentapplication may comprise one or more of a mouse, a keyboard, a stylus, ahaptic device sensitive to a finger gesture from the user, an acousticdevice sensitive to a voice-activation from the user, a graphical userinterface, or a GUI-actuated keypad simulator.

The methods and systems described in the present disclosure may beimplemented in hardware, software, firmware or any combination thereof.Features described as blocks, modules, or components may be implementedtogether (e.g., in a logic device such as an integrated logic device) orseparately (e.g., as separate connected logic devices). The softwareportion of the methods of the present disclosure may comprise acomputer-readable medium which comprises instructions that, whenexecuted, perform, at least in part, the described methods. Thecomputer-readable medium may comprise, for example, a random accessmemory (RAM) and/or a read-only memory (ROM). The instructions may beexecuted by a processor (e.g., a digital signal processor (DSP), anapplication specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a field programmablelogic array (FPGA), a graphic processing unit (GPU) or a general purposeCPU (central processing unit) or other microprocessor.

Example embodiments of the present invention are thus described inrelation to a method, which comprises presenting, to a user of a firstcomputer, a plurality of layout formats, wherein each of plurality thelayout formats is user-selectable for dividing a viewing area of thefirst computer area into a corresponding plurality of cells, which isunique in relation to the other layout formats.

A single-page document is created, which based on a user-selection ofone of the plurality of layout formats, divides the displayed viewingarea into the unique plurality of cells corresponding thereto.

A corresponding item of media content is assigned to each cell of theselected unique plurality, designated from among a plurality of mediacontent items according to a user selection.

The created single-page document is rendered over the divided viewingarea based on the assignment.

The rendered document comprises one or more of: each of the mediacontent items displayed within each of the corresponding cells, and uponactivating an interface associated with a selected cell of the document,one or more of an expanded view or an enlarged view of the media contentitems, or a view thereof which is displaced spatially in relation to theselected cell.

A number of example embodiments have been described in relation to thepresent disclosure. Nevertheless, it will be understood that variousmodifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope ofthe present disclosure. Accordingly, other embodiments are within thescope of the following claims.

The examples set forth above are provided to those of ordinary skill inthe art as a complete disclosure and description of how to make and usethe embodiments of the disclosure, and are not intended to limit thescope of what the inventor/inventors regard as their disclosure.

Modifications of the above-described modes for carrying out the methodsand systems herein disclosed that are obvious to persons of skill in theart are intended to be within the scope of the following claims. Allpatents and publications mentioned in the specification are indicativeof the levels of skill of those skilled in the art to which thedisclosure pertains. All references cited in this disclosure areincorporated by reference to the same extent as if each reference hadbeen incorporated by reference in its entirety individually.

It is to be understood that the disclosure is not limited to particularmethods or systems, which can, of course, vary. It is also to beunderstood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose ofdescribing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to belimiting. As used in this specification and the appended claims, thesingular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless thecontent clearly dictates otherwise. The term “plurality” includes two ormore referents unless the content clearly dictates otherwise. Unlessdefined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein havethe same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in theart to which the disclosure pertains.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method comprising: presenting, to a user of afirst computer, a plurality of different layout formats, wherein each ofthe layout formats is user selectable for dividing a viewing area of thefirst computer area into a corresponding plurality of cells forming arectangular grid structure; creating a single page document, which basedon a user-selection of one of the plurality of layout formats, dividesthe displayed viewing area into the plurality of cells correspondingthereto, the cells of the plurality of cells being mergeable to createlarger areas for media content; assigning to at least one cell of theselected plurality, a corresponding item of media content designatedfrom among a plurality of media content items according to an input fromthe user; displaying the created single-page document over the dividedviewing area based on the assigning, wherein the displaying comprises:i) for each cell with a corresponding item of media content, displayingthe corresponding item of media content within the cell; and ii) uponactivating an interface associated with a selected cell of the document,displaying one or more of an expanded view of the media content items ora view thereof which is displaced spatially in relation to the selectedcell and presenting the created single-page document to the user.
 2. Acomputer-based device, comprising: a user interface for the user toinput instructions; a processor configured to interpret instructionsfrom the user interface; and a visual platform to display results of theprocessor on a single-page document; wherein the processor is configuredto: present to the user of the user interface, a plurality of differentlayout formats that are each user-selectable for dividing the visualplatform into a corresponding plurality of cells forming a rectangulargrid structure; divide the visual platform into the plurality ofmergeable cells corresponding thereto, based on the layout formatselected at the user interface; place in each cell a corresponding itemof user-selected media content at the user interface, displaying thecorresponding item of media content within the cell; load one or more ofan expanded view of the media content items of a view thereof which isdisplaced spatially in relation to a selected cell of the document, uponactivating an interface associated with the cell; and display thecreated single-page document over the divided viewing area to the user.3. The device as described in claim 2, wherein the user-selected mediacontent further comprises at least one item from the group consistingof: an image, a written text, a video, an audio file, a website, anelectronic magazine, a document file, or a hyperlink.
 4. A methodcomprising: presenting, to a user of a first computer, a plurality ofdifferent layout formats, wherein each of the layout formats isuser-selectable for dividing a viewing area of the first computer areainto a corresponding plurality of cells forming a rectangular gridstructure; creating a single-page document which, based on auser-selection of one of the plurality of layout formats, divides thedisplayed viewing area into the plurality of cells correspondingthereto, the cells of the plurality of cells being mergeable to createlarger areas for media content; assigning to at least one cell of theselected plurality, a corresponding item of media content; displayingthe created single-page document over the divided viewing area based onthe assigning, wherein the displaying comprises: i) for each cell with acorresponding item of media content, displaying the corresponding itemof media content within the cell; and ii) upon activating an interfaceassociated with a selected cell of the document, displaying one or moreof an expanded view of the media content items or a view thereof whichis displaced spatially in relation to the selected cell and presentingthe created single-page document to the user.
 5. The method as describedin claim 4, wherein the corresponding item of media content isconfigured to be automatically assigned to the cell of selectedplurality from a plurality of media content items provided by the user.6. A system comprising: a web server running a server applicationconfigured to connect to: a device running a device specificapplication, the device comprising: a bus; a processor coupled with thebus; a display viewing area coupled with the bus; and a non-transitorystorage medium coupled with the bus and comprising instructions, whichare tangibly stored therewith and executable by the processor, wherein,upon executing the stored instructions, the processor is operable forperforming or controlling a process, which comprises: presenting, to auser of a first computer, a plurality of different layout formats,wherein each of the layout formats is user-selectable for dividing aviewing area of the first computer area into a corresponding pluralityof cells forming a rectangular grid structure; creating a single-pagedocument which, based on a user selection of one of the plurality oflayout formats, divides the displayed viewing area into the plurality ofcells corresponding thereto, the cells of the plurality of cells beingmergeable to create larger areas for media content; assigning to atleast one cell of the selected plurality, a corresponding item of mediacontent designated from among a plurality of media content itemsaccording to a user selection; displaying the created single-pagedocument over the divided viewing area based on the assigning, whereinthe di splaying comprises:  i) for each cell with a corresponding itemof media content, displaying the corresponding item of media contentwithin the cell; and  ii) upon activating an interface associated with aselected cell of the document, displaying one or more of an expandedview of the media content items or a view thereof which is displacedspatially in relation to the selected cell.
 7. The system of claim 6,further comprising: one or more of a web application or a third partyapplication; an application server, configured to manage applicationprogramming interfaces, story engine, story viewer, community manager,file manager, photo bank marketplace and application databases; and afile server, configured to manage file server databases, wherein the webserver is configured to connect to the application server, theapplication server is configured to connect to the file server, and theapplication databases and file server databases are hosted in a cloudserver environment.
 8. A system comprising: a web server running aserver application, the web server configured to connect to: a devicerunning a device specific application, the device comprising: a userinterface for the user to input instructions; a processor that caninterpret instructions from the user interface; a visual platform todisplay the results of the processor; wherein the processor outputsresults that are a single-page document according to storedinstructions, which comprises: presenting to a user of the userinterface, a plurality of different layout formats that are eachuser-selectable for dividing the visual platform into a correspondingplurality of cells forming a rectangular grid structure; dividing thevisual platform into the plurality of mergeable cells correspondingthereto, based on the layout format selected at the user interface;placing in each cell a corresponding item of user-selected media contentat the user interface, displaying the corresponding item of mediacontent within the cell; loading one or more of an expanded view of themedia content items of a view there of which is displaced spatially inrelation to a selected cell of the document, upon activating aninterface associated with the cell; and displaying the createdsingle-page document over the divided viewing area to the user.
 9. Thesystem of claim 8, wherein the web server is further configured toconnect to: one or more of a web application or a third partyapplication; an application server, configured to manage applicationprogramming interfaces, story engine, story viewer, community manager,file manager, photo bank marketplace and application databases; and afile server, configured to manage file server databases, wherein the webserver is configured to connect to the application server, theapplication server is configured to connect to the file server, and theapplication databases and file server databases are hosted in a cloudserver environment.